A FAMILY business which has been open for over 61 years in a Scottish city has made the "difficult decision" to close.
Ella Bulloch Hats & Accessories on Clarkston Road, Glasgow, was the city's oldest hat shop, opened by Ella Bulloch in 1964.
She ran the shop until she "retired" in 2013, aged 99, but her family have now said they're pulling the shutters down "with heavy hearts."
The family said that the decision has come after the "effects of a number of events over the past few years", as well as an increase in costs and shift to online shopping.
Announcing the news on social media, the Bulloch family said: "It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that we are closing our family business, Ella Bulloch Hats & Accessories, Glasgow’s oldest hat shop.
"Opened by Ella in August 1964, for over 61 years, our friendly and skilled staff have advised generations of women on choosing hats and accessories. Our decision to close is a difficult one.
"Our last day of opening will be on Saturday, 20th December 2025. Our Closing Down Sale begins on 13 November 2025 - at least 50% off all our gorgeous stock.
"The effects of a number of events over the past few years have contributed to our decision to close.
"The Covid pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, rising costs, and a shift towards less formal weddings have meant less hats are being bought overall.
"The increase in online shopping - and consequential nationwide decrease in traditional High Street shopping - has adversely affected us too.
"We have always been passionate about providing each customer with excellent and personalised service tailored to them, and where style and colour-matching is often so important.
"We believe moving to online shopping would compromise our ability to deliver this standard of service, having had several mothers of brides/grooms tell us that they came to Ella Bulloch having been frustrated and disappointed by their experience of online shopping elsewhere for their special hat.
"In addition, providing excellent personal advice and service, carrying a large range of stock so that we can offer customers choice, employing our team, and maintaining our lovely shop all incur costs, which are rising, but which will not be borne by many online 'shops' with few overheads and which can undercut us on price.
"This is indeed a sad time, but we would like to thank our customers for their support and trust over so many years, allowing us to share in important events such as weddings, investitures, Royal Ascot and many, many more.
"We have loved seeing all your beautiful outfits and hearing all your stories.
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"We would like to thank our wonderful staff, past and present, for their enthusiasm, professionalism, and commitment to high-quality customer service over the years.
"Ella 'retired' in 2013, aged 99, and moved to be near us, some 160 miles from the shop.
"We could not have kept the business going this far without our trusted team: we know how much they love their work and how saddened they are that we are closing.
"When she opened her shop in 1964, Ella would not have imagined that her beloved business would still be going in 2025.
"We are very sorry the time has come to close, and we know our gorgeous window displays will be missed by passers-by on Clarkston Road, but we are proud to have been part of the 'Glasgow institution' which is Ella Bulloch Hats & Accessories.
"Thank you to everyone who has been part of our story. Gordon & Carol Bulloch."
You can visit the shop for their closing down sale at 461 Clarkston Road, Glasgow.
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